UTAG to launch actions to pressure govt to fight galamsey
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced plans to take a series of actions aimed at holding the government accountable for what it describes as the ongoing environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Newly elected UTAG President, Dr. Ivy Fiador, told journalists that the Association is preparing to unveil specific measures to demand stronger government intervention in the fight against illegal mining.
“Water is an essential thing, and that is what we drink. Now it may look like it is far away from us. In a few years, we are likely to be battling more diseases than we normally would. Already, as a nation, we are financially challenged.”
“While on the surface, galamsey appears to create employment, and you have people revolting when we make a move, when you juxtapose the cost implication when you want to restore degraded lands or water, then you realise that the net present value is negative in the long run,” she said.
Dr. Fiador stressed that illegal mining poses a serious threat not only to public health but also to Ghana’s long-term economic stability and environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama is expected to meet with over 60 civil society organisations on Friday, October 3, to discuss strategies for ending illegal mining and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
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